USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 47
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Following the close of hostilities between the north and the south Mr. Powell resumed farming in Wisconsin and was closely associated with agricul- tural interests in that state until 1881, when, believing that he might have still better opportunities in the new but growing west, he removed to Richardson county, Nebraska. Not fully satisfied with that location, he remained there only until the following November, when he came to Clay county. For twenty-seven years he has now been a resident of this county and throughout much of the period has devoted his attention to the tilling of the soil. He first bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Douglas township, which he cultivated and improved, making his home thereon until 1892. In that year he was elected to the office of county recorder and removed to Spencer in order to facilitate the discharge of the duties of the position. That he proved capable and efficient is indicated in the fact of his reelection to his incumbency in the position, covering eight years, or until 1900. Since that time he has lived retired in the enjoyment of well-earned and well-merited rest. He still owns the farm, however, and derives therefrom a good annual rental.
On the 19th of October, 1869, Mr. Powell was married to Miss Emma S. Edwards, who was born in Byron township, Genesee county, New York, on the 14th of January, 1847. She is a daughter of Edward T. and Sarah (Edwards, Edwards, who were natives of North Wales. Coming to America, they settled in Genesee county, New York, where they lived for some years and then removed westward to Wisconsin in 1855, making their home in Ridgeway township, Towa county. The father there secured a tract of land and devoted his remaining days to general agricultural pursuits, his death occurring in 1882, when he had reached the ripe old age of eighty-two years. He had long survived his wife, who died in 1863, when forty-seven years of age. They were the parents of six children who reached maturity: John W., a resident of Chicago: Mary A., the wife of James Kinton, of Stella. Nebraska : Sarah J., the widow of Joseph Martell ; Anna S., the wife of T. P. Powell ; Thomas R., also a resident of Stella, Nebraska ; and Roseltha Abby, the widow of John Higgins.
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The home of Mr. and Mrs. Powell was blessed with eleven children, but eight of the number died in childhood. Those living are: Thomas Edward, who is now a mail carrier ; Margaret Sarah, the wife of Joseph Roberts, a druggist of Linn Grove, Iowa; and Charlotte Louise, the wife of Albert O. Anderson, who is conducting a drug store in Peterson, Iowa. They also have an adopted son, Royal Brown Powell. Both Mr. and Mrs. Powell are devoted and faithful members of the Baptist church and Mr. Powell belongs to Annett Post, No. 224, G. A. R., while his wife is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps. He is serving as chaplain of his post and is interested in its work. His political allegiance has been given to the republican party, since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he has been loyal in his support of its principles and proud of the fact that he cast his first vote for Grant. For a number of years he filled the office of justice of the peace and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial. He was also township assessor of Douglas township for several years and has likewise filled the office of school director. The cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion and at all times he is interested in the welfare and progress of the community, giving his support to many measures for the public good. In his business dealings he has ever been straightforward and reliable, enjoying the full confidence of those with whom he has been associated and as a worthy and representative citizen of Clay county he well deserves mention in this volume.
O. H. ERFFMEYER.
The Sunny Slope Stock Farm, one of the most attractive farm properties in Summit township, is cultivated by O. H. Erffmeyer. It is situated on section 13 and comprises three hundred and twenty acres. Here Mr. Erffmeyer carries on general farming, stock-raising and dairying and his capable business judgment is seen in the excellent results which attend his labors. He dates his residence here since the 2d of March, 1900, and in the intervening years has made many substantial improvements on his property, which is today most valuable and sightly.
On the Ist of February, 1873, Mr. Erffmeyer started on life's journey, the place of his nativity being Winnebago county, Illinois. No event of special im- portance occurred in his boyhood and youth. He was reared to manhood in his native county and educated in its common schools, supplemented by two years' study in the Rockford Academy, so that he was well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. He remained with his father on the home farm until twenty-seven years of age and his training in the work of field and meadow was of a most thorough character, for as soon as old enough to handle the plow he began work in the fields and as his years and experience increased he more and more largely assumed the management and care of the farm. In March, 1900. he arrived in Clay county and took charge of the farm here. He is a most energetic, industrious man, faltering in the performance of no duty that devolves upon him. Progress and improvement may well be termed the keynote of his character. He has given his time and energies to the further development of his
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place and has here erected a large barn, forty by eighty feet. It is one of the largest in the county and indicates in what an extensive measure Mr. Erffmeyer is engaged in general farming. He also has a large granary, double corn cribs and sheds, wherein his farm machinery is protected from the storms. He has planted some fruit and has greatly improved the place, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation. He is not afraid of work but on the contrary is a most diligent, energetic man and his success is therefore well merited.
On the 15th of December, 1904. Mr. Erffmeyer was married in Summit township to Miss Kathryn G. Schony, who was born in Freeport, Illinois, and is well educated. She engaged in teaching in her native state and afterward in Iowa and South Dakota. She is a daughter of Squire Schony. Mr. and Mrs. Erffmeyer attend the Methodist Episcopal church of Fostoria and contribute to its support, while Mr. Erffmeyer is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp there. Politically he is a republican where national issues are involved but votes independently at local elections, nor has he ever desired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs, which are now capably conducted, so that he is justly classed with the progressive farmers of the county.
JACOB BURGER.
Jacob Burger, who engages in general farming and stock raising in Everly, Clay, county, and who is numbered among the substantial agriculturists of this vicinity, is a native of Pennsylvania, where his birth occurred January 7. 1847. His parents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Boyer) Burger, both of whom were natives of York county, Pennsylvania, where they resided on a farm until they departed this life in the years 1882 and 1901, respectively. They reared a large family, as follows: Jacob, of this review; John B., an agriculturist of Clay township, this county ; Liddie Ann, the widow of George Reinhart, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Andrew, deceased; Lizzie, who became the wife of William Rhiber, a railroad man residing in Wormleysburg, Pennsylvania; Mary Ellen, who wedded Andrew Stough, residing near Strinestown, Pennsylvania; and Susan, deceased.
During his boyhood days Jacob Burger worked on his father's farm and passed through the usual experiences which enter the life of a country boy, engaging in the general routine of the farm during the summer season and attending the district school during the winter. He assisted his father in his agricultural duties until he was eighteen years of age, when, ambitious to take up arms in support of the honor of his country, he enlisted in Company D, Two Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, afterward engaging in a number of battles under Generals Mosby, White and Kinslow until he received an honorable discharge. After his military career had ended he returned to his father's farm, remaining there until the year 1880, when, hearing of the excep- tional chances offered to agriculturists in Iowa, he came to this state. He did not move direct to that place, however, but spent one year in Putnam, Illinois, then followed farming in Buena Vista county, Iowa, for three years, and then came
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to Clay township, Clay county, where he purchased the southeast quarter of section 5 and immediately took up the raising of crops. When he settled upon the land it was in a rough state, but he gradually succeeded in making improve- ments, so that now his farm is provided with an excellent dwelling, barn, out- buildings, machinery and all the necessary conveniences of a successful farm. He engages in a general agricultural business, producing hay, grain and. other crops, and also devotes some attention to stock raising, breeding some excellent specimens of graded cattle and hogs.
In 1878 Mr. Burger wedded Miss Ellen Miller, and to this union were born the following children : John, a guide who resides in Okoboji, Dickinson county, Iowa; Joe, who is taking up a homestead in Dakota; Lydia, wife of Eli Gerard, and resides on a farm in Tennessee; Clinton, who is locating land in Dakota ; Robert, who follows agricultural pursuits in this county; and Mary, the wife of William Richard, a Dakota farmer. After the death of Mrs. Burger, Mr. Burger was united in marriage, in 1899, to Mrs. Anna Dammann, a daughter of Dellef and Anna (Kanck) Thorston, who came to the United States from Schleswig-Holstein in 1872, settling in Ohio. From there they went to Davenport, Iowa, then to Crawford county, Iowa, and in 1898 came to O'Brien county, Iowa, where they now reside. Mrs. Burger had one son by her first marriage, Julius Dammann, who lives with his mother. Unto Mr. Burger and his second wife has been born one child, Lloyd. Mr. Burger is a loyal supporter of the republican party. He is a man of integrity and ambition, and is accounted among Clay county's representative citizens.
HEINE O. GREEN, M. D.
Dr. Heine O. Green, discharging his professional duties with a sense of conscientious obligation because of his thorough understanding of the responsi- bility that devolves upon the physician and surgeon, has won for himself a fore- most place in the ranks of the medical fraternity of this part of the state. He has practiced successfully in Spencer and the public has attested its faith in his. skill and ability by giving to him a liberal patronage. One of Iowa's native sons, his birth occurred at Postville, June 10, 1870. He was one of four children born to Dr. John S. and Mary A. (Cameron) Green. The others were: Emma, now the wife of Dr. C. M. Coldren, a resident of Milford, Iowa : Dr. John E., deceased ; and Carrie, who died in infancy.
Dr. H. O. Green spent his boyhood days in Postville, Iowa, and, mastering the work of successive grades in the public schools, eventually became a high- school student and was graduated in the class of 1887. He then attended the Upper Iowa University for three years and was graduated from the Western College at Toledo, Iowa, in 1891. In preparation for a life work he began the study of medicine in the medical department of the State University of Iowa in 1893, continuing until 1895. He then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in St. Louis, and is numbered among its alumni of 1895, being vale- dictorian of the class. That year he began practicing in Spencer, Iowa, where
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he has remained continuously since. He has gained recognition as one of the able and successful physicians here, and by his labors, his high professional attainments and his sterling characteristics has justified the respect and confi- dence m which he is held by the medical fraternity and the local public.
On the 22d of January, 1907, Dr. Green was married to Miss Judith Bernheim, a daughter of Joseph and Marie (Sands) Bernheim. Mrs. Green was born in Denver, Colorado, while her parents were natives of Germany. They came to America in 1881 and settled in Denver, Colorado, where her father carried on business as a mining broker.
Dr. and Mrs. Green have but one child, Joseph Elmore Sands. Mrs. Green is a member of Temple Israel at Helena, Montana. Dr. Green belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. His political support is given to the democracy and he keeps well informed on all questions and issues of the day. In his professional relations he is con- nected with the Clay County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society, the Austin Flint Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He thus keeps abreast with the profession in its onward march, continually broad- ening his knowledge also through individual research and investigation, until his ability places him in the foremost rank of the medical fraternity in Clay county. He enjoys a large practice, is a progressive citizen and one whose position in the community is enviable, as the expression of public opinion con- cerning him is altogether favorable.
EVAN JONES.
Nature seems to have intended that man should enjoy a period of rest in the evening of life. In youth one is filled with hope and enthusiasm, in mature years his energy and determination are tempered by sound judgment and experi- ence and therefore, if he is persistent in his labors, success will attend him and then when the evening shadows fall he will find it possible to enjoy a period of rest from labor. Such has been the history of Mr. Jones who, for the past six years, has lived retired in Everly, although for a long period he was one of the active and energetic farmers of Sioux township. Moreover he is entitled to special mention in this volume from the fact that he is one of the pioneer settlers and aided in reclaiming the district for the purposes of civilization. He came to the county in 1867 and found here a region that was wild and unimproved, giving little indication of the progress that was soon to transform it into a thickly settled region. However, some years were to pass before Clay county was to take its place among the leading counties of the commonwealth and in those years men of resolute spirit and undaunted energy found it necessary to labor indefatigably in order to convert the raw prairie into productive fields.
Mr. Jones has ever borne his full share in the work of public progress and his life history cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers. He was born in Oneida county, New York, January 13. 1829, and was reared on the home farm where he early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall
PLELICLIS
ASTOR LEAUX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
EVAN JONES
MRS. EVAN JONES
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASOH Unx TILDEN FULMLA IONS
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to the lot of the agriculturist. In 1855 he removed westward to Wisconsin, settling in Dane county, where he worked at farm labor by the month. He then rented land and engaged in farming on his own account in that county, later purchasing two hundred and forty acres of land in Adams county, Wisconsin. However, he found this land so poor and sandy, that after owning it for eleven years he sold it for one dollar an acre, or two hundred and forty dollars.
While living in Wisconsin Mr. Jones was married in Fort Atkinson, that state, on the Ist of December, 1859, to Miss Mary E. Frink, who was born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, January 11, 1841. Her father, Hiram W. Frink, came to Wisconsin in 1836 when that state was still a territory. His father settled in New York city in early days when the city was called New Amsterdam. Mr. Hiram Frink died in 1881, long surviving his wife who passed away in 1846. Mrs. Jones is distantly related to Senator B. Payne of Ohio. They took up their abode on a rented farm in Dane county, where they lived until 1867 and then removed to Iowa, securing a homestead claim in Sioux township. Clay county. Mr. Jones thus obtained possession of eighty acres which were entirely destitute of improvement, but soon the track of the shining plow was seen across the fields for he early broke the sod and turned the furrows that he might in course of time gather rich crops. He also bought eighty acres of land in section 14 adjoining his original place, so that his farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres. After some years he replaced the little buildings by more modern, com- modious and substantial farm structures and he bought other land, including one hundred and twenty acres on section 26, Sioux township. He cultivated this in connection with his other farm and was busily occupied with the work of the fields for a number of years, after which he rented his land and removed to Spencer. For a year he resided in the county seat, during which time Mrs. Jones assisted in the organization of the old Methodist church of which she was a charter member. He later bought his present home, locating where he now resides in Everly. His place was one of the well known homesteads of Clay county for he featured in the early development and every pioneer settler knew the location of the Jones farm and many were there entertained by the hospitable owner.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jones were born three sons. J. E. Jones, who now owns and operates the old homestead, is married and has a daughter Blanche. H. E. Jones, living in Everly, is married and has three daughters, Edith, Ella and Ruth. A. T. Jones, also of Everly, is married and has four children, Theodore, Leslie. Grace and Mamie.
In his political views Mr. Jones was a democrat until 1856, when the newly organized republican party placed a ticket in the field and he supported John C. Fremont. He remained an unfaltering advocate of the republican principles until 1896, when he returned to the democratic ranks. In Sioux township he was elected and served as justice of the peace and he was also trustee for Spencer township for two terms. The cause of education finds in him a stalwart cham- pion and he served as one of the first directors of the schools in his district. He was frequently a delegate to county conventions and it is characteristic of Mr. Jones that his position has ever been an unequivocal one. He has stood fearlessly in support of whatever he has believed to be right and neither fear
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nor favor could swerve him from this course. He has now reached the eightieth milestone on life's journey and for forty-two years of this time has been a resident of Clay county. His memory goes back to the time when the homes were widely scattered and when there were many log houses in the district. Much of the land was untillable because it was low and wet, but drainage has changed all of this, and where once were seen wild animals of the prairie are now found large herds of cattle and other stock. There were still traces of Indian occupation here when he arrived but the work of progress has been carried so steadily forward that as one now looks over the fine farms and pro- gressive towns it seems hardly possible that it is within the memory of a living man when this was largely a wild and unimproved region.
JOHN M. SOKOL, M. D.
The well established family physician obtains an influence in any com- munity which is more far reaching than that of any man sustaining other rela- tions to the public, and if his life is actuated by honorable principles and lofty ideals, he becomes a notable force for good in support of those measures and movements which are calculated to benefit the community at large. Such a physician is Dr. John M. Sokol, one of Iowa's native sons, his birth having occurred in Monmouth, Jackson county, January 18, 1876. His parents were Frank and Anna (Wanacheck) Sokol, both of whom were natives of Bohemia. The former was a son of Frank Sokol, a farmer by occupation, who was born, reared and married in Bohemia. He came to America in 1854 and settled at Monmouth, Iowa, where he died at an advanced age, while his wife, Mrs. : Josephine (Nishka) Sokol, had also traveled far on life's journey before she was called to her final rest. They had a large family, four of whom, John, George, Frank and Josephine, reached adult age. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Sokol was Vincel Wanacheck, and he, too, was a native of Bohemia, whence he came to the United States in 1854. In that year he established his home at Baldwin, Iowa, and devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits. The maternal grandmother was Anna (Dolezal) Wanacheck. Unto him and his wife were born four children: Frank, Vincel, John and Anna, the daughter becoming the wife of Frank Sokol and the mother of Dr. Sokol.
In the year 1854 Frank Sokol accompanied his father to America, the family home being established at Monmouth, Iowa, where he remained until 1861, when he crossed the plains to the Pacific coast with a prairie schooner, and there engaged in mining for four years. He then returned east, and in 1880 removed to Onslow, Iowa, and there established business as a lumber merchant. He is still residing there and is one of the most prominent and influential residents of the town. As the years, have gone by he has extended his business interests and is now well known in financial circles as the vice president of the Onslow Savings Bank. In political circles he is also recognized as a leader, and for a number of terms served as a member of the board of supervisors of Jones county, while for two terms he represented his district
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in the state legislature, his reelection coming to him as an endorsement of his devotion' to the interests of the commonwealth during his first term. No native- born citizen of Iowa is more loyal to the state and its upbuilding than is Mr. Sokol, whose patriotism and devotion to the general good stand as unquestioned facts in his career. It was following his arrival in the new world that he wedded Anna Wanacheck, and unto this marriage were born four children, two sons and two daughters: George, now a resident of Sibley, lowa; Blanche, the wife of William Shuttleworth, of Ocheyedan, Iowa: Emma, the wife of Frank Shimmerola, of Oxford Junction, Iowa; and John M., our subject.
Dr. John M. Sokol, of this review, whose youth was largely passed in Onslow, Iowa, continued his studies through the successive grades in the public schools until he was graduated from the high school of that place with the class of 1890. He afterward entered Ames College and was graduated from the scientific course in 1895. While attending there he engaged in teaching school two winter terms and after his graduation he resumed the profession of teaching, becoming principal of the high school at Oxford Mills, where he remained for two years. He then studied medicine with the intention of making his practice his life work, matriculating in the Rush Medical College, of Chicago, where he completed his course in 1902. He was then house physician in the Cook County Hospital for one and a half years, and added to his theoretical training the broad experience of hospital practice. In October, 1904, he arrived in Spencer, where he has practiced continuously since.
On the 28th of June, 1905, Dr. Sokol was married to Miss Winifred Dando, a daughter of Simon Dando. They have one child, Charles. Dr. and Mrs. Sokol hold membership in the Congregational church and are actively interested in its work. He belongs also to Evening Shade Lodge, No. 312, A. F. & A. M., and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has held several positions in the line of his profession, acting as health officer of Spencer for four years, as county physician, and also as county coroner, being the incumbent in this office at the present time, following his election in 1908. Professionally he is connected with the Clay County, the Iowa State and the Upper Des Moines Medical Societies, and thus keeps in touch with the general progress of the profession. Anything which tends to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life is of interest to Dr. Sokol, who is now an extremely busy and successful practitioner, constantly overburdened by demands for his services. He is an industrious and ambitious student, patient under adverse criticism, while in his expressions concerning brother practitioners he is friendly and indulgent.
M. O. NEWMAN.
General agriculture and stock raising engage the attention of M. O. Newman, a substantial farmer and representative citizen of Peterson township, this county, who was born in Green county, Wisconsin, March 5, 1860, a son of Samuel A. and Mary (Roderick) Newman, his father having been a native of Pennsylvania.
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